Revolver firing mechanism with single action and double action movement

ABSTRACT

A firing mechanism incorporating an improved sear nose on a trigger providing both single and double action movements, a single leaf spring positioning both a hand and a connector during such movements, a detachable sideplate having a recess providing a connector guide surface, and a depressible hammer strut having an integral hub bearing portion pivotally supported in captured relation to the hammer. A multi-function fastener arrangement removably secures the sideplate to the frame and provides for locating stocks in relation to the frame before attachment, as well as maintaining them against unintended displacement relative to the frame after attachment.

United States Patent Lewis [451 Oct. 31, 1972 [72] Inventor: Karl R. Lewis, Wethersfield, Conn.

[73] Assignee: Colt Industries Operating Corp.,

Hartford, Conn.

[22] Filed: March 18, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 843,869

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,019,210 ll/1957 Germany ..42/65 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Illustrated Firearms Assembly Handbook, pages 34 and 35, Iver Johnson Top-Break Revolver by E. J. l-loffschmidt; published by the National Rife Association of America, May 1952- June 1960.

Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-C. T. Jordan Attorney-Prutzman, Hayes, Kalb & Chilton [5 7] ABSTRACT A firing mechanism incorporating an improved sear nose on a trigger providing both single and double action movements, a single leaf spring positioning both a hand and a connector during such movements, a detachable sideplate having a recess providing a connector guide surface, and a depressible hammer strut having an integral hub bearing portion pivotally supported in captured relation to the hammer. A multifunction fastener arrangement removably secures the sideplate to the frame and provides for locating stocks in relation to the frame before attachment, as well as maintaining them against unintended displacement relative to the frame after attachment.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED am 3 1 I972 SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR. KARL R. LEWIS ATTORNEYS Pmminw 31 I912 3.701.213

SHEET 2 OF 2 REVOLVER FIRING MECHANISM WITH SINGLE ACTION AND DOUBLE ACTION MOVEMENT This invention relates to handguns and particularly concerns revolvers.

A principal object of this invention is to provide an improved handgun which has a minimum number of parts, is quick and easy to handle, is readily field stripped for maintenance purposes and which is particularly suited for low cost manufacture and assembly.

Another object of this invention is to provide a handgun of the above-described type incorporating an improved firing mechanism of significantly simplified construction.

Other objects will be in pan obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view, partly broken away and partly in section, showing a handgun incorporating this invention with its hammer in neutral or fired position;

FIG. 2 is a partial side view showing details of the handgun firing mechanism with its hammer in cocked position;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken generally along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view, on a reduced scale, showing a portion of a connector in relation to an inside wall of a sideplate of the handgun frame; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view showing the connector and hand in relation to the sideplate when the hammer is in cocked position.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a preferred embodiment of this invention is shown in a revolvertype handgun having a barrel 12 secured to a frame 14. Pivotally mounted in the frame 14 is a swing-out cylinder 16 suitably chambered for receiving cartridges (not shown) to be fired in sequence by a firing mechanism 18.

To load and unload the cylinder 16, a cylinder bearing pin 20 is retracted against a spring bias coaxially away from rotary bearing engagement with the cylinder 16 to permit it to be bodily displaced angularly about a pivotal axis X-X of a crane 22. The pivotal axis X-X of the crane 22 is in parallel spaced relation to the central rotational axis of the cylinder 16 which is coincident with a spring biased ejector rod 24. By such construction, both the crane 22 and cylinder 16 may be swung outwardly as a unit from a closed position within the frame 14 (shown in the drawings) to an open position. In open position, spent cartridge casings (not shown) man be unloaded by depressing the ejector rod 24 to move a ratchet ejector 26 rearwardly to unseat the cartridge casings. Upon releasing the ejector rod 24, the ratchet ejector 26 again seats against the cylinder 16, which may then be loaded with fresh cartridges before being closed.

Upon being seated in closed position, the spring biased bearing pin 20 automatically moves forwardly into bearing engagement with the cylinder 16 to support it for rotary movement, and each cylinder chamber (not shown) is individually maintained in coaxial alignment with the barrel 12 by an end of a bolt 28 which seats within one of a series of cylinder locking cuts such as at 30 which in turn correspond in number to the cylinder chambers. The bolt 28 pivots about a pin 32 fixed to the frame 14, and a torsion spring 34 continuously urges the bolt 28 toward seating engagement within a cylinder locking cut 30.

To ensure low cost manufacture while also minimizing close tolerance requirements, the frame 14 is preferably formed with a cavity 36 having a fiat internal floor 38 for receiving the firing mechanism components which by virtue of the flat floor construction are quickly and easily assembled and replaced as the need arises.

For firing the cartridges, the firing mechanism 18 is provided a trigger 40 and a hand 42 is pivotally supported thereon to advance the ratchet ejector 26 a selected angular distance to index each chamber in turn into alignment with the barrel 12 to be sequentially fired by dropping a hammer 44 to actuate a firing pin 46.

The hammer 44 is supported on the frame 14 by a pivot pin 48 and is released from a cocked position (FIG. 2) to move toward a neutral or fired position (FIG. 1) responsive to movement of the trigger 40. The hammer 44 returns to fired position under the force of a main spring 50. The latter is coiled about a guide rod 52 extending through an apertured thrust plate 54 in the frame 14 with the main spring 50 bottomed on the thrust plate 54 and urging an upper ball end 56 of the guide rod 52 into a socket 58 for continuous engagement with the hammer 44.

The firing pin 46 is biased rearwardly by a captive spring 60 such that a head 62 of the firing pin 46 is exposed in adjacent but spaced relation to the hammer 44 in neutral or fired position and a tip 64 of the firing pin 44 is normally contained within a recoil plate 66 of the frame 14 in coaxial alignment with the barrel 12.

The trigger 40 pivots about the frame 14 on a pin 68 and is normally maintained in a forward position (FIG. 1) under the bias of a trigger return spring 70. Upon squeezing the trigger 40 rearwardly, a forward nose 72 of the trigger 40 engages a shoulder 74 of the bolt 28 to disengage the latter from its cylinder locking cut 30 responsive to downward movement of the trigger nose 72 to permit the cylinder 16 to be indexed by the hand 42 simultaneously with the pivotal movement of the trigger 40. The hand 42 advances the ratchet ejector 26 at a sufficiently rapid rate such that, upon the trigger nose 72 clearing the shoulder 74 of the bolt 28, the bolt 28 seats within the next locking cut 30 to fix a cylinder chamber in alignment with the barrel 12 before the trigger 40 causes the hammer 44 to be dropped, thereby to ensure against any possibility of actuating the firing pin 46 before a cylinder chamber is fully indexed.

The hammer 44 is thus simultaneously actuated with the trigger 40 and the chamber indexing movements of the cylinder 16. If the cylinder 16 were bound by an unseated bullet, e.g., trigger movement would be interrupted by virtue of the hand 42 being directly mounted for pivotal movement on the trigger 40. A complementary safety feature is provided by a safety connector 76 which, like the hand 42, is also supported for pivotal movement directly on the trigger 40 to be positioned between the hammer 44 and the firing pin 46. The latter thus is conditioned to be fired only when the trigger 40 is held rearwardly, preferably after moving the hammer 44 into fully cocked position (FIG. 2).

To position both the hand and connector elements 42, 76, while yet ensuring an improved, simplified construction incorporating a minimum number of parts, a spring 78 is mounted between the hand 42 and connector 76 to continuously urge them respectively toward and away from the cylinder 16. Positive contact engagement between the hand 42 and ratchet ejector 26 is thereby ensured while also preventing any possibility of interference between the connector 76 and the exposed head 62 of the firing pin 46. In the specific illustrated embodiment of this invention, the spring 78 is a generally flat leaf spring shown carried by the connector 76 and suitably configured with a reverse bend. Such construction provides an intermediate spring portion 80 engaging the connector 76 to urge it away from the cylinder 16 while a free end portion 82 of the spring 78 contacts the hand 42 to bias it toward the cylinder 16 into initial contact with a guide pin 84 on the frame 14. Both the hand 42 and connector 76 are continuously urged in such opposite angular directions irrespective of their relative positions throughout the entire movement of the trigger 40.

Both single and double action movements of the firing mechanism 18 are provided for in the revolver of this invention. In a single action movement, the hammer 44 is manually cocked by depressing its hammer spur 86 and then released from cocked position by a trigger squeeze. In contrast, the hammer 44 is both cocked and released by a single trigger squeeze in a double action movement.

During cocking of the firing mechanism 18, hammer movement is effected in accordance with another feature of this invention by a significantly simplified sear construction. A rear nose portion 88 is provided on the trigger 40 incorporating a novel profile of reduced thickness in the direction of the pivotal axis of the trigger 40 to form a pair of contoured engagement shoulders defining a single action trigger sear portion 90 and a double action trigger sear portion 92. The hammer 44 is formed with a lower finger 94 having a notched end portion defining a single action hammer sear 96. The finger 94 initially engages a shoulder 98 on the rear trigger nose 88 adjacent the single action trigger sear 90 upon depressing the hammer spur 86 to move the trigger 40 rearwardly to engage the single action sear portions 90 and 96 of the trigger 40 and hammer 44, thereby to hold the hammer 44 cocked until it is released by a trigger squeeze causing the single action trigger sear 90 to move upwardly and disengage the single action hammer sear 96 to fire the revolver 10.

In the illustrated embodiment, a hammer strut 100 constitutes a double action hammer sear and a positive force is applied along the length of the strut 100 responsive to rearward movement of the trigger 40. Upon squeezing the trigger 40, the double action trigger sear 92 engages the hammer strut 100 to move the hammer 44 into fully cocked position and, coincidentally with further rearward movement of the trigger 40, the hammer strut 100 rides off the contact surface of the double action trigger sear 92 to drop the hammer 44 to fire a cartridge.

It will also be noted that undesired rubbing of the parts is minimized by providing raised pads such as shown at 99 and 101 on the trigger 40 and hammer 44 respectively.

To further minimize the number of working parts while providing additional economies in the manufacture and assembly of the revolver of this invention, the strut is formed with an integral hub bearing portion 102 received for captured pivotal movement within a recess 104 formed in the hammer 44. In addition to minimizing the number of parts normally associated with conventional revolver firing mechanisms, such construction provides further advantages of unitary low cost manufacture and increased stability and strength for dependable service over an extended period of time. To ensure continuous contact engagement between the hammer strut 100 and the cooperating double action trigger sear 92 during rearward movement of the trigger 40 while additionally permitting trigger return to its forwardmost position past the hammer 44 in its fired position, the hammer strut 100 is rearwardly depressible. In this regard, a coil spring 106 continuously urges hammer strut 100 forwardly to an extent limited by engagement between the pivoted strut 100 and the hammer 44. A cylindrical guide 108 receives the coil spring 106 which bottoms against the hammer 44 within a compartment 110 formed therein and against a closed end of the guide 108 to apply continuous spring force against the hammer strut 100 while also permitting it to move rearwardly to allow the trigger 40 to return to its forwardmost position.

In accordance with still another feature of this invention for ensuring quick and easy assembly of stocks 112, 114 to the frame 14, a combination sideplate and stock retaining means is provided for releasably securing a sideplate 116 to the frame 14 and for both locating and maintaining the stocks 112, 114 in fixed relation to the frame 14. As best seen in FIG. 3, the combination sideplate and stock retaining means is provided by a fastener 118 removably securing the sideplate 116 to the frame 14 with the fastener 118 comprising a screw 120 and cooperating nut 122 respectively having end portions protruding a discrete distance for receipt in cavities 124 and 126 recessed in an inside wall of the stocks 112 and 114. The cavities 124, 126 are prepositioned and dimensioned to ensure that the screw 120 and nut 122 will intimately engage the stocks 112 and 114 with the stocks overlying corresponding portions of the frame 14 in coextensive alignment. The fastener 1 18 thus provides multiple functions of not only fastening the sideplate 1 16 to the frame 14 but also quickly and easily locating the stocks 112, 114 on the frame 14 for attachment, while effectively preventing any undesired angular displacement of the stocks 1 12, 1 14 relative to the frame 14 once the stocks are secured thereto by a suitable screw, e.g., not shown.

To maintain the connector 76 against excessive movement away from the cylinder 16 under the force of spring 78, while also ensuring that the hand 42 will be held in operative engagement with ratchet ejector 26 of the cylinder 16 throughout the hammer movement, a recess 128 is formed in an inside wall of the sideplate 116 to provide a shoulder or guide surface 130 for the connector 76. As best seen in FIG. 4, the

connector 76 includes a firing pin engagement portion 132 which is offset and disposed laterally outwardly of the recess 128 irrespective of the connector position. As the hammer 44 moves to cocked position, the connector 76 rides up the shoulder 130, to position its offset portion 132 between the hammer 44 and firing pin 46 while ensuring that the connector 76 will be free of any interference with the firing pin 46 during hammer movement. The spring 78 also maintains the connector 76 in continuous contact engagement with the shoulder 130 to ensure against any possibility of the spring 78 being relaxed to permit disengagement of the hand 42 and the ratchet ejector 26.

A handgun constructed in-accordance with this invention not only provides a minimum number of working parts in a handgun effecting both single and double action movements but also provides for quick and easy field maintenance and any necessary parts replacement due to the significantly simplified construction of its firing mechanism. In addition, the handgun has been designed so that the cost of manufacture and assembly is minimized in a significantly simplified design particularly suited to promote improved reliability and service performance over an extended period of time.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications and adaptations of the structure above-described will become readily apparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A handgun firing mechanism comprising a frame, a hammer in the frame movable between fired position and cocked position by both single action movement and by double action movement and biased toward its fired position, the hammer having a single action hammer sear and a double action hammer sear, and sear means supported for movement about a pivot axis in the frame, the sear means having a portion of reduced axial thickness providing a pair of contoured engagement shoulders in offset relation to one another in a direction parallel to said pivot axis, the shoulders defining a single action sear portion and a double action sear portion respectively engageable during single action and double action movements with the single action hammer sear and the double action hammer sear when the hammer is in cocked position for holding the hammer therein before it is released to move under the action of its bias to fired position.

2. The firing mechanism of claim 1 further including a trigger supported for pivotal movement in the frame, the sear means being formed as an integral part of the trigger.

3. The firing mechanism of claim 1 wherein the double action hammer sear is a spring biased depressible strut pivotally supported on the hammer and having an integral hub bearing portion, the hammer having a recess therein receiving the hub bearing portion of the strut for captured pivotal movement.

4. The firing mechanism of claim 1 further including a firing pin mounted in the frame, a chambered cylinder rotatably supported in the frame, a hand for moving the cylinder into aligned position aligning a cylinder chamber with the firing pin, a connector for connecting the hammer with the firing pin when the hammer is released from cocked position, and a spring between the hand and the connector and continuously urglng them respectively toward and away from the cylinder.

5. The firing mechanism of claim 4 wherein a trigger is supported for pivotal movement in the frame, wherein both the hand and the connector are pivotally supported for movement on the trigger, and wherein the spring is a generally flat leaf spring carried by one of the hand and connector elements and continuously urging them respectively toward and away from the cylinder. 

1. A handgun firing mechanism comprising a frame, a hammer in the frame movable between fired position and cocked position by both single action movement and by double action movement and biased toward its fired position, the hammer having a single action hammer sear and a double action hammer sear, and sear means supported for movement about a pivot axis in the frame, the sear means having a portion of reduced axial thickness providing a pair of contoured engagement shoulders in offset relation to one another in a direction parallel to said pivot axis, the shoulders defining a single action sear portion and a double action sear portion respectively engageable during single action and double action movements with the single action hammer sear and the double action hammer sear when the hammer is in cocked position for holding the hammer therein before it is released to move under the action of its bias to fired position.
 2. The firing mechanism of claim 1 further including a trigger supported for pivotal movement in the frame, the sear means being formed as an integral part of the trigger.
 3. The firing mechanism of claim 1 wherein the double action hammer sear is a spring biased depressible strut pivotally supported on the hammer and having an integral hub bearing portion, the hammer having a recess therein receiving the hub bearing portion of the strut for captured pivotal movement.
 4. The firing mechanism of claim 1 further including a firing pin mounted in the frame, a chambered cylinder rotatably supported in the frame, a hand for moving the cylinder into aligned position aligning a cylinder chamber with the firing pin, a connector for connecting the hammer with the firing pin when the hammer is released from cocked position, and a spring between the hand and the connector and continuously urging them respectively toward and away from the cylinder.
 5. The firing mechanism of claim 4 wherein a trigger is supported for pivotal movement in the frame, wherein both the hand and the connector are pivotally supported for movement on the trigger, and wherein the spring is a generally flat leaf spring carried by one of the hand and connector elements and continuously urging them respectively toward and away from the cylinder. 